Newcastle United are reportedly leading Manchester United in the race to land LOSC Lille striker Jonathan David after lining up a bid for him.
Newcastle United are set to rival Manchester United in the race to sign Lille striker Jonathan David during the upcoming January transfer window. That is according to French outlet Media Foot Marseille, which claims the Magpies could launch the offensive for the Canadian hitman after failing to sign him last summer.
David had a great season for Lille last year, scoring 19 goals in 48 games. He had a couple of mini-goal droughts, but more often than not, he bounced back with crucial goals for his team.
And he is firing on all cylinders once again this season, having found the back of the net nine times in 15 matches thus far, while also providing three assists in the process, causing all sorts of problems for opposition defenders this campaign, boasting a lethal mix of pace, power, aerial ability, and prolific finishing.
In total, David has now netted 41 goals and registered eight assists in 110 outings for Les Dogues since making the move from Belgium outfit Gent in August 2020.
The 22-year-old was linked with a move away from the Ligue 1 outfit over the summer. But the summer transfer window closed with the striker staying put at Stade Pierre-Mauroy.
Even though David still has three more years remaining on his current deal, Lille could have a big battle on their hands to keep their prized asset. Major Premier League clubs, including Newcastle and Manchester United, are monitoring him closely ahead of potential moves in 2023.
Given that it is likely that Cristiano Ronaldo will leave either in January or next summer after dropping that bombshell Piers Morgan interview, the Red Devils will soon be on the market for a new striker. If he leaves, Erik Ten Hag will only have Marcus Rashford and Anthony Martial to choose from, and the latter has had difficulty staying fit this year, making David a viable target.
However, Manchester United will not have a clear run at David, with Newcastle United jumping on the bandwagon of his suitors. In fact, the Magpies tried to capture the Lille striker last summer but failed in their pursuit before signing Alexander Isak from Real Sociedad in a club-record deal.
The Toon Army, though, are refusing to budge and are planning to return with another offer in the January window as Eddie Howe and co. look to bolster their attacking roster even further to sustain their top-four push. While the outlet has not mentioned the asking price, it could take a significant sum of money for Newcastle United or Manchester United to pry him away from Lille.
